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England have pulled off a spectacular cross-code raid by convincing rugby league superstar Sam Burgess to switch to union and be fast-tracked into their 2015 World Cup plans.

Despite denials by Stuart Lancaster and the RFU last weekend that the 25-year-old or his Australian club, South Sydney Rabbitohs, had been approached, Sportsmail can reveal that he has agreed to move to the 15-man game later this year.

Burgess has accepted an offer from an Aviva Premiership club — understood to be Bath — and his departure from league will be confirmed once financial terms have been finalised.

There is a transfer fee — estimated to be in the region of £500,000 — involved.

New challenge: Burgess will sign for an Aviva Premiership side from South Sydney Rabbitohs

This will be needed to buy the former Bradford Bulls forward out of the remainder of his existing contract with the Rabbitohs, who are co-owned by Hollywood actor Russell Crowe.

It is understood that the RFU are likely to pay a share of the fee in recognition of the fact that Burgess has been identified as a primary target by the England coaches, who believe he could operate at inside centre.

Reports Down Under suggested that
Andy Farrell — himself a dual-code international — made an approach to
Burgess during the rugby league World Cup in the autumn.

Taking centre stage: Burgess has been identified as a primary target by England bosses

Burgess started his rugby league career at Bradford after playing junior rugby in nearby Dewsbury. He made his debut in 2006 and quickly established himself as a Super League star.

This alerted the Rabbitohs and he moved Down Under in 2010. He has since become one of the most destructive forwards in the NRL and helped to turn the South Sydney side into a major force.

He is joined by his siblings George, Luke and Tom and last season they became the first set of four brothers to line up in the same Australian side since Ray, Roy, Rex and Bernard Norman played for Sydney's Annandale club in 1910.

He starred for England at the 2013 rugby league World Cup, despite picking up a one-match ban for a high tackle in the opening game against Australia.

Burgess was man of the match in the last-gasp semi-final defeat by New Zealand and his performance earned praise from union World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, who tweeted at him: 'Thought you were phenomenal today'.

Middle man: Reports Down Under suggest Andy Farrell made an approach for Burgess in the autumn